A (kinda tricky) quizz

If we asked you what was the first antitrust legislation ever in force in part of the territory of what is now the United States you would probably respond that it was the Sherman Act.

This answers is wrong.

What then was the first antitrust law ever in force in America??

We can give you two hints: (i) it was drafted in the 13th century; (ii) the person who promoted its drafting is one of the 23 lawmakers depicted in the marble bas-reliefs of the House of Representatives chamber of the United States Capitol.

Our quizz will be open for 24 hours. You can submit your answers either as comments to this post (they won´t be made public until tomorrow) or via email to alfonso.lamadrid@garrigues.com (I anticipate that I won´t be able to reply; actually, the reason why we´re posting a quizz is because these are busy -and fun- times at work).

It is the laws of las Siete Partidas passed by Alfonso X, El Sabio (1265). The Fifth section of the Seven Laws entitled “Of the shortages and bids that merchants create between themselves through oats and guilds” was the legal provision prohibiting traders from engaging in price-fixing and output restriction.

Instead of a free beer could the prize be a meeting with Mr.Petit ?? (to discuss the legal market in Brussels and the Competition and IP law LL.M. in Liege)

The Code was elaborated in Spain (Castile), however it was widely applicable in the territory of the Latin America including the territory of the modern USA up to the 19th century.
Seems to be correct 🙂

Alfonso X, El Sabio (the “Wise”). The code was Siete Partidas.
The Siete Partidas was in force in Latin America until the modern codification movement (1822–1916); until the beginning of the 19th century, they were even in effect in the parts of the United States, such as Louisiana, that had previously belonged to the Spanish empire and used civil law. Furthermore, they served as the legal foundation for the formation of the governing juntas that were established in both Spain and Spanish America after the imprisonment of King Fernando VII during the Peninsular War.